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Friday, September 19, 2014

In a page seemingly lifted from their 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 exhibit, Honda Cars Philippines decided to show off the brand’s racing heritage by bringing over not one but two motorsports inspired exhibits: the NSX Concept and the Japan Super Formula open-wheeled race car. Of course, they decided to use the Philippine International Motor Show to finally unveil their all-new Brio and Brio Amaze B-segment car.
Down to the order of business, after previewing the Brio and Brio Amaze a few months back, Honda has finally priced their newest offerings. Powered across the line by a single engine: a 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine with 100 horsepower and mated to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic, Honda’s dynamic duo has the following pricing:

Brio 1.3 S M/T – P 599,000

Brio 1.3 S A/T – P 639,000

Brio 1.3 V M/T – P 679,000

Brio 1.3 V A/T – P 719,000

In comparison, the slightly larger and cushier Brio Amaze is pegged:

Brio Amaze 1.3 E M/T – P 629,000

Brio Amaze 1.3 S A/T – P 689,000

Brio Amaze 1.3 V M/T – P 729,000

Brio Amaze 1.3 V A/T – P 769,000

Though both models are on the pricier side of the B-segment category, Honda is quick to note that both models receive world-class drivetrain components as well as amenities. For instance, the Brio and Brio Amaze’s platform were developed using the first-generation Jazz as basis. Top of the line amenities include a complete array of safety equipment as well as a GPS navigation system with DVD playback.

We will have the complete specs of both the Brio and Brio Amaze variants once we get them.

Aside from the pricing of the all-new Brio and Brio Amaze, Honda also used the Philippine International Motor Show as the venue to wet the Filipino’s appetite for Honda’s return to Formula One racing in 2015. They’ve done so by bringing over their 2013 championship winning Japan Super Formula SF13 #16 piloted by Naoki Yamamoto of Team Mugen. This marks the first time a Super Formula car has been displayed outside Japan. Super Formula is an evolution of Japanese Formula 2000 series and features open-wheeled race cars powered by Toyota and Honda engines.

Finally, with the much-anticipated (and much-delayed) return of the all-new NSX sports car in 2015, Honda Cars Philippines showed off the concept car that started it all: the NSX Concept. Debuting in 2012, the NSX Concept is a technical showcase of what Honda’s new sports car would be. It’s a mid-engined, all-wheel drive sports car with a V6 engine that powers the rear wheels and three electric motors. The first electric motor is incorporated into the dual clutch transmission while the two others are part of the SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system. This set-up allows the NSX Concept to send positive or negative torque to the front wheels during cornering for improved handling.